A Regional Review

Story by Hilary Berg | Photos by Andrea Johnson

Consumers thirst for education in regard to important purchases. For serious wine buyers, that desire is even stronger. Many are still learning about Oregon — education about all the regions and their wineries is a never-ending quest. It has become the mission of many Oregon makers, managers and marketers to get the word out about the state’s wine and diverse regions that put our industry on the world-class map.

With education, comes studying and lots of reading, which is what OWP hopes you do over the next several pages. In this feature, you will find a break down of Oregon’s 16 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) as well as a group of regional promotional groups that have formed in the vast super-AVA of the Willamette Valley for the purpose of educating consumers and drawing tourists.

Some of these groups would like an AVA at the end of their names, but, of course, the long and painstaking process of approval from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury will decide on their fate. Geographic location, climate, soil and topography are taken into consideration when applying for an AVA designation. As of January 2010, a total of 198 AVAs have been granted official status.

Whether you’re visiting an AVA or an organized wine region, you will find each one has its own narrative to tell. So, for the sake of education, grab a glass and settle in for a long, lingering lesson on Oregon wine.

With a focus on Northwest wines and regional cuisine, the Savor Cannon Beach festival offers a four-day lineup of wine, culinary and arts experiences in one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beautiful destinations. A series of six festival events focus on specific themes that showcase the bounty of Northwest wine and cuisine while restaurants, galleries and shops add a weekend full of tastings, ...

The James Beard Legacy: A Celebration of “America’s First Foodie” in Oregon’s wine and truffle country.
Native Oregonian James Beard was a longtime champion of Oregon truffles and proclaimed them as equals to their more expensive and established European counterparts. As an ode to James Beard and his advocacy for Oregon truffles, the 2018 Oregon Truffle Festival’s wine ...

The James Beard Legacy: A Celebration of “America’s First Foodie” in Oregon’s wine and truffle country.
Native Oregonian James Beard was a longtime champion of Oregon truffles and proclaimed them as equals to their more expensive and established European counterparts. As an ode to James Beard and his advocacy for Oregon truffles, the 2018 Oregon Truffle Festival’s wine ...

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